Elon Musk publicly reaffirmed SpaceX's commitment to Mars, tweeting "I will not forget about Mars" and rejecting claims from Peter Thiel that he had abandoned colonization plans. Musk said a roughly six-month transit and four-to-20-minute communications delay would lower existential risk, but emphasized exploration as his primary motivation. SpaceX is prioritizing a lunar "self-growing city" that could progress sooner, while still planning work toward a Martian city in five to seven years and listing cargo Starship flights no earlier than 2028.
Elon Musk Reaffirms: "I Will Not Forget About Mars" as SpaceX Balances Lunar Work and AI Focus
Elon Musk Says 'I Will Not Forget About Mars,' Reaffirms SpaceX's Multiplanetary Vision
Elon Musk reaffirmed Space Exploration Technologies Corp.'s long-term commitment to Mars on July 27, 2026, posting an image of the planet's rocky surface with the caption, "I will not forget about Mars." The message underscored that Mars remains central to SpaceX's mission even as Musk pursues advances in artificial intelligence, robotics and a nearer-term lunar program.
The comment came after Musk pushed back on Peter Thiel's claim that he had abandoned plans to colonize Mars. "Peter is not correct about me in this case," Musk wrote in response to a viral summary of Thiel's assessment, adding that his objective of making humanity multiplanetary "remains unchanged."
Why Mars Still Matters, Musk Says
Musk argued that establishing a presence on Mars would substantially reduce the risk that a single catastrophe on Earth could extinguish human consciousness. He cited a deadly pandemic as an example, noting that the roughly six-month journey to Mars would function as "an automatic 6 month quarantine." He also suggested that the planet's distance could slow the spread of computer viruses or hostile artificial intelligence attacks. NASA notes that one-way communications between Earth and Mars take roughly four to 20 minutes depending on planetary positions, and that transit between the planets is about six months.
"This doesn't mean that a Mars civilization eliminates all risk, but it absolutely greatly reduces the risk of consciousness being extinguished," Musk wrote. "What I personally find most motivating is not the risk reduction aspect of extending life beyond Earth, but rather the inspiring nature of exploration and being out there among the stars."
Moon First, But Mars Not Forgotten
Earlier in the year, SpaceX announced a priority shift toward developing a conceptual "self-growing city" on the Moon, prompting questions about whether Mars ambitions were being deprioritized. Musk said the lunar effort could advance more quickly but stressed it would complement—not replace—the company's Mars plans. He projected preliminary work toward a Martian city within five to seven years.
SpaceX continues to position Starship as a fully reusable vehicle designed to carry people and cargo to Mars. The company lists cargo flights no earlier than 2028. The Associated Press reported in May that an upgraded Starship completed a major test flight despite engine trouble, marking progress on hardware initially developed for NASA's Moon program and ultimately intended for Mars missions.
In June, Musk reiterated SpaceX's open invitation to potential passengers, saying the company wants to take "anyone who wants to go" to Mars—not only professional astronauts. While significant technical, financial and safety challenges remain, SpaceX's public messaging emphasizes a dual focus on near-term lunar milestones and the longer-term goal of a multiplanetary future.
Outlook
Musk's latest statements clarify that Mars remains central to SpaceX's vision even as the company advances lunar infrastructure, AI and robotics. The timeline for a Martian city and crewed missions will depend on technology development, regulatory approvals and successful testing of Starship and related systems.
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